Model 500 is an alias of Juan Atkins, a Detroit-born techno and electro artist. He begins recording under the Model 500 name in 1985 after releasing several Cybotron records, and he also uses the Model 600 alias.

Career

Atkins founds the Metroplex label and releases work there under Model 500. His friends Eddie Fowlkes, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson all record singles on the label. The first Model 500 single, “No UFOs,” becomes a hit in Detroit and Chicago, and he follows it with a series of tracks that help define early techno.

Legacy

His work earns him the nickname “the godfather of techno.” Within a few years, his recordings are rereleased in Europe and influence another generation of producers.